The ratings of reality television show Idols SA plummeted markedly following the exit of star judge Somizi, UbeToo findings reveal.
Somizi had been axed as a judge of the show following allegations of abuse leveled against him by his estranged husband, Mohale Motaung. Among others, Mohale had claimed that Somizi had threatened him with a knife.
With the news of the alleged abuse hitting town, the reality TV show had issued a statement in which it distanced itself from the abuse, while also insisting its position on the issue does not mean Somizi is guilty.
At the outset, it had been stated that Somizi was taking a break from the show to focus on his family challenges. But when the reality show announced in August that the gregarious judge would not be returning to the show, many viewers stopped watching.
According to Channel 24, the viewership of the reality show fell from a little over 1 million to 693,000.
In place of Somizi, the show has been using guest judges. Earlier, it had been rumored that Kelly Khumalo would take over Somizi’s slot on the judging panel. But the songstress reportedly turned down the offer because she’d already been co-opted as a judge on another reality show, Stand Up South Africa.
